Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Kimberly's Top Ten Historical Fiction Novels




Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics, check them out here!

Okay so some of these may not be strictly 'Historical Fiction'... I cheated a bit on a few of them. ;) But they take place in the past, or have characters from the past... That counts, right?


1- The Book Thief- I know I'm just repeating myself now, I think this has made it onto at least 3 of my TTTs. But it really is a fantastic book.


2- Travel to Tomorrow- I read this book several months ago, the publisher sent it to me. I even got to intereview the author! Then my computer died and I lost the review, the notes I'd taken during the interview... I'm was slightly traumatized. However, thank heavens, one of my wonderful neighbors saved my computer and the document! I'll be able to post it soon. Check this novel out, it's not strictly historical fiction... But seriously, read it.


3- Time for Andrew- This has been one of my absolute favorite books since I was 12. It's 'children's' fiction, but a delight to read for ANY age. Promise.


3- Stepping on the Cracks- Wonderful WWII novel, another children's fiction (same author as Time for Andrew, actually) but a wonderful book.


4- Memoirs of a Geisha- Excellent book. Loved learning even more about the Japanese culture. (Though there are a couple of mistakes...but that's beside the point) I love unique cultures, I really enjoyed this one.


5- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie- Not only does this book have one of the most engaging young protagonists I've found, but it's an all around good mystery novel laced with plenty of humor as well as suspense.


6- The Thief Lord- I actually do not have the slightest idea when this takes place, but it's at least many years in the past. I've heard this book compared to 'Neverwhere' by Neil Gaiman. So if you like that, you'll probably like this. The descriptions... I fell in love with Venice even more. It made my wanderlust even worse, I wanted to go there and see what the author was describing.


7- The Help- By now everyone has heard of this book, so I need not say much about it. Excellent book, powerful story that can truly change how you look at life. If you like audio books, check this one out. It's fantastic.


8- Sarah's Key- (Ok, so I actually haven't read all of this yet...)I received this as a gift a little over a year ago and just now had a chance to start reading it. It's fantastic so far.


9- The Secret Life of Bees- Rather similar to The Help. I came across this book back in my sophmore year of High School. We had our 'reading time' in English and I'd finished my book. 15 minutes to read and no book to read. So I went begging to my teacher. She handed over her own copy of this book for me to borrow, she'd just finished it and loved it. Fantastic book. After I finished it a couple days later I got to chat about the book with my teacher, we sat and talked about what we loved, what had made us cry, etc... It was so great! (Thank you Mrs. Young, you were my absolute favorite English teacher!!!)


10- Anne of Green Gables- Okay okay, I know, this may not exactly count because it more or less takes place within few years of when it was written. However, I adore these books and I say they belong on this list.


Can't wait to see what every one else has! I actually had a difficult time putting this list together. Share your list below!



42 comments:

  1. I haven't read a number of picks on your list, but I have to say that Anne of Green Gables totally works ;) It's just such a lovely classic!

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  2. Anne of Green Gables is so awesome that it should count twice. :) I've also read The Help, and I agree - it's fantastic and powerful. My mother-in-law actually just gave Sarah's Key to me as a gift. I haven't started it yet, but it looks good. Happy Tuesday to you!

    Ree @ Literary Obsession

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  3. I haven't read any of the books on your list but they look like some fun reads! Great Top Ten!

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  4. The Book Thief is one of my favorite books.

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  5. Hey there :) Great list! I love The Help, such a teary and emotional read.

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  6. I can honestly say that I have never read a single one of these books. Always ment to read a few of them though. :/

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    1. You will love the Help! And the Secret Life of Bees. Memoirs of a Geisha is also pretty good.
      I haven't heard of some of them either though. More things to read, yay!

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  7. Not a huge fan of Memoirs of a Geisha - something about putting decidedly Western ideas about romantic relationships onto a different culture and then claiming authenticity rubs me a bit of the wrong way. Still, I understand the appeal even if I don't personally like it.

    However, as a Canadian, I LOVE Anne of Green Gables!

    Cheers,
    Alyson

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  8. I love The Book Thief, it's one of my favourite historical fiction pieces! I have Memoirs of a Geisha on my tbr pile, although I'm in two minds about reading it!

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  9. Nice list! I agree with The boko thief. That's my 1 book on the list too :)

    http://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-ten-tuesday-is-original.html

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  10. I loved The Book Thief. My housemate keeps telling me to read The Help, so maybe one of these days I will get around to it!

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  11. Enjoyed your list! Historical fiction isn't my thing, but when I was younger one of my favourite books was My Anastasia by Sharon Stewart, which is a historical fiction, I think.

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  12. There are a lot of good books on your list! I especially love Sarah's Key.

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  13. The Book Thief and The Help could go on just about any "Best" list! And I've been wanting to read Sarah's Key for the longest time. Thanks for the reminder!

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  14. I love the Book Thief as well. I've heard several say it was too dark for them. I just don't think they got the jist of the book. Definitely should be on many lists.

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  16. You've listed so many of my favorites! The Book Thief, Anne, Memoirs, Sweetness, so good!

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  17. YES YES YES to The Book Thief, The Help and Anne of Green Gables! Those are some of my very favorite books :) I haven't read Memoirs of a Geisha yet, but I just bought it the other day so I'm very happy to see it on your list!

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  18. The Book Thief is one of my all time favorites! :-)

    http://amidnightsummersread.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-ten-tuesdays_13.html

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  19. I love historical fiction so I will definitely check out some of these. Love The Book Thief as well!

    Jennifer @ Feminist Fairytale Reviews
    http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-ten-tuesday-17-historical-romances.html

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  20. Thanks for a great list - I always find historical to be hit and miss, so there are some definite new reads for me to check out!

    Jenn @ Lost In Great Book

    http://lostinagreatbook.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/top-ten-tuesdays-canadian-reads-for-middle-schoolers/

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  21. I love Secret Life of Bees and Anne of Green Gables too. I have begun the help. I see the Book Thief on every list. I need to read it!

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  22. Man I love a ton of these, and the others I have to add to my list!! Memoirs, The Help, Anne of Green Gables, and The Book Thief, all awesome!!

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  23. The Help was absolutely amazing, and the movie wasn't too shabby either! It actually gave me something to root for during awards season. :D

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  24. I like a little history in my fiction too. love your list today. kaye—the road goes ever ever on

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  25. You have a great list. This was my first time participating and I chose historical fiction also but with an emphasis on elementary and YA. I loved several of your choices like The Help and The Book Thief.

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  26. The Book Thief deserves multiple mentions! I really enjoyed that one. I also have books I've mentioned on more than one Top Ten Tuesday.

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  27. I put up my list, and we had a few overlap, and I forgot a few that you mentioned!!! I also loved "Memoirs of a Geisha", and the Flavia de Luce mysteries. The Book Thief made my list as well - it is a most unusual book, and memorable. I also enjoyed "Fever" by Laurie Halse Anderson, and a book written in verse called The Braid by Helen Frost. I think I needed a top twenty for Historical fiction!

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  28. A lot of praise for The Book Thief, methinks I should read it.

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  29. Just leaving a little note to let you know that I LOVE your blog and am your newest follower!

    -Kate the Book Buff
    Recent Post: "Infamous" Trailer Reveal and Preview Chapter Links!

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  30. Great list! I really enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha and The Help. I have been meaning to read Sarah's Key.

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  31. Fun lists to read! I do love me some historical fiction - when I was putting my list together, I was struck by how many of my favorites were YA. I'm in the middle of THE BOOK THIEF and loving it, so that will be another one for the YA HF love fest

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  32. The Thief Lord is actually supposed to be a contemporary piece, but the way Funke writes (both with TL and the Inkheart Series) she's very antique with her words and setting. I absolutely love it. She's such the masterful storyteller!

    Also, fistpump with The Book Thief!

    Mine! http://quixoticallyuncharted.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-ten-tuesday-historical-fiction.html

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  33. I am with Must Love Books, I haven't read any of those. Oops. But the Book Thief is in my TBR list along with 200 and some books. lol. I thought I would put a twist on my top ten genre list and make them the top Hottest men in that genre. Hopefully that was okay b/c I seriously have a hard time just limiting it to ten.

    http://sistersunedited.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-ten-tuesday.html

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  34. I've never come across anyone else who has read Time for Andrew! I remember CRYING over that book when I was 11 or 12. I've always wanted to read it again to see if I still love it! Great list!

    My Top Ten

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  35. Yay for Anne! Embarrassingly, though, that's the only one of these I've read. I still have an unread copy of The Book Thief--*must* get to it soon!

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  36. Great list, I just joined this meme ^.^

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  37. I love Anne of Green Gables. And The Thief Lord :] I still have to start on my copy of The Help!

    I linked up my list. I can't wait to read more posts!

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  38. Soooo many books just added to my list. It'll never grow smaller.

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  39. I'm proud to say I've read all but two on your list. That said, I'll be reading the rest. :) Thanks!

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